HIGH

CEAR

1978 GEAR

VOL 4 A Publication of the GEAR Foundation ISSUE 9

Staff

HIGH GEAR journal is a publication of the Gay Educational and Awareness Resources (G.E.A.R.) Foundation of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free of charge in any establishment and with any organization that will permit distribution. We are non-profit publication, and all proceeds not used to pay printing costs and service fees are set aside for the Gay HotlineSwitchboard (216) 621-3380 the G.E.AR. Foundation which sponsors the Cleveland Gay Community Center and other Ohio gay organizations.

The presence of the name or picture or other representation of an organization, place of business or person(s) in HIGH GEAR is not necessarily indicative of the sexual orientation of such organizations, businesses or persons.

We welcome all contributions of written materials, art work, or photography by members of the gay community. All materials submitted for publication are subject to editorialization. We cannot guarantee the return of materials submitted for publication, whether used by HIGH GEAR or not, unless they are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envolope.

All HIGH GEAR staff are volunteers. Anyone Interested in working on the staff of HIGH GEAR should Inquire by calling (216) 621-3380 or by writing to HIGH GEAR STAFF, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio 44101.

Businesses or organizations wishing to advertise in HIGH GEAR may obtain advertising rate sheets and other Information by writing to the above address.

The deadline for HIGH GEAR publication dates is as follows:

Advertising by the 30th of every month, camera ready and componton ade. Written material by the 5th of every month. Nows hems until publication.

High Gear will not publish material in which graphic or verbal representations of an ideal or idealized human body appear, except in the case of a performer or work of art which is the subject of the material. We also will not publish material of a racist, sexist, or pornographic nature. We reserve the right to alter and/or edit material to conform to, the above standards; in the case of display advertising, after notifying the advertiser.

HIGH QUAR is printed the second Thursday of every month and avalable at bars, baths, universities, businesses and elsewhere thereafter.

HIGH GEAR is copyrighted under federal law. Reproduction is granted to all other gay publications so long as credit is given to HIGH GEAT. All HIGH GEAR work is original unless otherwise noted.

Michael Prunty

Leon Stevens

MIKE GARCIA

CARL HOWARD

Robble Robinson

Terry McCormick Aaron Ross

Circulation

Mark Kinsley .... Steve Jobe Dan Miecznikowski Mitchell Menigu Pat Henderson .... Bill Smith Dennis Highland

...

.....

11,000

Distribution Akron, Athens, Barberton, Berea, Bowling Green, Brooklyn,Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Cleveland Hts., Columbus, Dayton, Fairview Park, Lakewood, Lima, Lorain, Mansfield, Middleburgh Hts., Oberlin, Painesville, Parma, Parma His., Piqua, Rockbridge, Rocky River, Sandusky, Toledo, Warren, Youngstown and points beyond.

"I am a person, a woman, and a lesbian in that order. But when I or you speak publicly it has to be primarily as a lesbian. We try to explain that we are also women and persons. But they won't hear it at first, so we have to say it again and again." --Del Martin, Lesbian feminist activist

HIGH GEAR/MAY 1978

GUEST EDITORIAL

Page 2

ONE STEP FORWARD

By Dennis Highland

A major goal of the G.E.A.R. Foundation was accomplished when the Internal Revenue Service extended tax-exempt status to it, recognizing G.E.A.R. as a legitimate educational

organization.

It was truly a joy to receive this news! Many people worked long and hard to fulfill the stringent reporting requirements of I.R.S., so we were all gratified to hear that our efforts were successful. But even more impressive was the realization of how far G.E.A.R. in particular, and Cleveland's gay community in general, had progressed from such meager beginnings into a promising future.

Not too long ago, the gay world was a dark one. In most of the "civilized" world, gay men and women were harassed, tortured, and murdered. Just a few years ago in this country, it was not uncommon for roving gangs of straight bigots to assault members of the gay community. Vandalism of automobiles parked outside gay bars was distressingly commonplace. And we could not rely upon the police to protect us from such blatant crimes, merely because of our homosexuality and the prejudices others harbored toward us because of it.

Now, we have made "gay pride" part of our lives. Men are

beginning to hold hands in public. The newspapers no longer routinely discuss us with derision. Gay entertainment spots aren't tucked away into alleys anymore, but are quickly becoming an accepted part of the social scene. People on the "outside" are permitting their prejudices to dissolve in favor of objective reasoning.

thought and

This is not to say that our problems are over; there is still much discrimination, however subtle. There is still the problem of so-called religious fundamentalists who seek to pervert the true teachings of the Bible to fit their own ignorant prejudices, and to force these false values on society. But now, we have a recognition of the legitimacy of our educational goals. And there is no turning back now.

From the lavender triangle of Nazi Germany to the Mattechine Society of the oppressive 1950's and the Stonewall riots in reaction to police brutality, the turbulent history of the struggle for gay rights continues. Government sanction in the form of taxexempt status is but another milestone in that struggle. Gay economic pressures are being brought to bear on products ranging from beer to orange juice in order that our demands for nondiscrimination be

honored. Our money talks, and we should continue to endeavor that it be heard.

In order that we continue to be treated as individuals and not stereotypes, we should continue to act as individuals and not stereotypes. The successes we have enjoyed so far have been based upon the determination of gay men and women to be treated with respect. Surely we cannot expect this respect to continue if we deny our individual dignity and act in accordance with the misconceptions straight people may still have about us.

And we must never give up. Tax-exempt status required a good deal of effort. In order to show what ignorant fools the homophobes are, we must continue this effort. Gays can never acquiesce as long as there are those who would seek to deny us the same rights as anyone else, regardless of affectional preferences. In order to assure our continued advances, we must never relent.

So now the upcoming summer looks a little more inviting for all of us. The picnics and tours for gays abound, and beckon us for torrid weekends in the sun. The I.R.S. ruling extending taxexempt status to the G.E.A.R. Foundation, however important, represents but one step forward in our quest to pleasurably live our lives as we choose.

DADE COUNTY REVISITED

By TERRANCE MCCORMICK The twin defeats of gay rights ordinances in St. Paul, Minnesota and Wichita, Kansas in recent days are undoubtedly disheartening to the gay people of these communities and to the

many others nationwide who see

their fate tied to similar such legislation. These defeats, however, do not have a

paralyzing effect on the liberation movement (witness Dade County).

It is necessary for us to pause, however, and consider just what has been lost. Submitting the issue of human or civil rights to the volatile vagaries of a capricious, frequently

uneducated and misinformed electorate under our form of government is clearly absurd.

Many gay rights opponents Contend, and rightly so, that the civil rights of homosexuals are already protected under current law. That may be correct in theory, at least, but the ordinances are inspired because the law has not been particularly etfective in limiting discrimination NEPON LOSES

---courtesy of Bay Area Reporter, 3-30-78

CHICAGO Gary Nepon has lost his bid to become a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. The upfront Gay candidate sought an Independent Democratic seat in the 13th

against gays, and many courts, especially the Supreme Court, has refused to review cases of gay civil rights violations.

The energies that are devoted to sponsoring gay rights legislation and subsequently spent in defending them against homophobic incursions could,

we feel, be more productively

employed in advancing the appreciation by society of the gay culture.

We fear things we don't know or understand. While gays and straights mingle quite comfortably in every aspect of this society, straight folks are generally unaware of the gay presence. Most gays are in the closet to themselves and to this society. Until that changes, little will be accomplished in advancing the respect gay people deserve and must demand.

The major participant in the gay liberation movement is not the fraction of those who staff gay hot lines or serve in gay community centers. It is not we who volunteer for gay

District.

Danny O'Brien (23,000), Jesse White (25,000) and the incumbent (19,000) placed over Nepon (5,000). Local Chicago Gay activitists rallied together in support of Nepon, who became a symbol of political Gay power in

newspapers or attend gay seminars and conferences.

The vital element in the liberation drive is the individual the individual coming to terms with his/her own sexuality, accepting it, and then sharing the knowledge about himself/herself with family and friends,

colleagues, subordinates, employers. That's where gay liberation is now taking place and that is on what its future progress depends. The movement is advanced each time a gay individual affirms his right to exist as a homosexual, and by his example as a responsible, caring member of the society, he influences others to respect him and accord him the full measure of his human rights.

If in the future gay civil rights must be protected by special ordinances, we'll find it increasingly difficult for the parents of gays, their relatives friends and associates to go to the polls to cast a vote against people they know, love and respect.

this city.

Although Nepon's loss was substantial activists were pleased that his candidacy rallied Gay people to a political

cause.